A Woodlanders walk is among the events lined up to mark the birthday of Thomas Hardy in Sherborne and Dorchester.

The celebratory weekend is being organised by the Thomas Hardy Society and starts on Saturday, 3rd June, with a walk in Sherborne. The Summer Woodlanders Walk marks the 130th anniversary of the publication of the Wessex author’s novel The Woodlanders.

The walk is led by Helen Lange and starts from the war memorial in front of Sherborne Abbey at 10am. All welcome.

The day continues with a birthday lecture at the Dorford Centre in Dorchester at 3.30pm when Gwen Yarker will talk about landscape painting in Hardy Country. Tickets are £6 and £5 for Society members.

The talk will be followed by a performance by the New Hardy Players of Mr Penny’s Cobblers Shop, taken from Under the Greenwood Tree, at County Hall green.

Wreath laying ceremonies follow at the Thomas Hardy statue at Top o’ Town and at the William Barnes statue outside St Peter’s Church in High West Street.

The evening features a meal at the Wessex Royale hotel in Dorchester with an entertainment on Tess, Hardy and the Thornecrofts given by Marilyn and Andrew Leah.

The weekend rounds off with a service at St Michael’s Church, Stinsford, at 10am on Sunday, 4th June.

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Thomas Hardy Society secretary Mike Nixon said: “The Hardy Birthday weekend is a very special series of events which enables Hardy enthusiasts, members and non-members to get together and enjoy a variety of subjects connected to the author.

“Whether you are a students, academic or just love reading Hardy, all are welcome over this important weekend.”